Updated: Hynix, Elpida gain in DRAM rankings for '04

SAN JOSE, Calif.  Last year's upturn in the DRAM industry prompted a change in the overall vendor rankings in 2004, with Hynix Semiconductor Inc. and Elpida Memory Inc. making gains in the sector, according to a report from IC Insights Inc.

In the rankings for 2004, Samsung was the largest DRAM vendor in terms of sales, followed by Micron, Hynix, Infineon, Elpida, Powerchip, ProMos and Nanya, according to IC Insights (Scottsdale, Ariz.). (See below for rankings table)

In comparison, Samsung was the largest DRAM provider in 2003, followed by Micron, Infineon, Hynix, Nanya, Elpida, ProMos and Powerchip, according to the firm.

Overall, the DRAM market grew 61 percent to $26.8 billion in 2004, according to IC Insights. Five of the top eight companies in the list grew at a faster rate than the overall DRAM market and three grew at a slower rate than the total DRAM market.

Micron Technology Inc. remained second by increasing its DRAM sales by 37 percent to $4.24 billion, or 16 percent market share.

Closing in on the number two spot was Hynix, whose DRAM sales increased 72 percent in 2004. Hynix' DRAM sales jumped to $4.090 billion, with 15 percent market share in 2004.

"Hynix has built a strong and visible DRAM presence in China and much of the rest of the Asia-Pacific region," according to IC Insights. "Its strength in this region helped offset obligatory DRAM duties that were first imposed by the U.S. and European governments in 2003."

Infineon Technologies AG fell from third place in 2003, to fourth in 2004. Its DRAM sales increased by 32 percent to $3.846 billion, or 14 percent market share.

Two companies saw triple-digit improvements in DRAM sales in 2004. Elpida, ranked fifth on the top supplier list, grew its DRAM business 119 percent to $1.5 billion in 2004. Elpida includes the former DRAM businesses of NEC, Hitachi, and Mitsubishi.

Even with its 119 percent growth, Elpida was not the fastest growing DRAM supplier in 2004. That distinction goes to Taiwan-based Powerchip Semiconductor Corp., which saw its 2004 DRAM revenues increase 159 percent to $1.23 billion.